The leader of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation faces charges related to a historical sexual assault, according to law enforcement officials. Vincent Tacan, aged 65, was taken into custody on November 5 and formally accused of sexual assault, as per a press release issued by the RCMP on Monday. The arrest came after an extensive inquiry.
In May, a woman reported a past sexual assault incident that occurred in a western Manitoba community back in 1984, as per the RCMP. To safeguard her anonymity, neither the woman nor the specific community where the assault occurred has been disclosed by the police. The victim informed authorities that the assault happened when she was under 16 years old, with the alleged perpetrator being a 24-year-old man at the time.
In a statement released online on Monday, Tacan refuted the accusations and stated his intention to defend himself in court. He suggested that the case might be politically motivated, pointing to the ongoing chief and council elections in Sioux Valley later this week. Tacan is currently vying for re-election as chief, with the community scheduled to participate in the electoral process on Thursday, as indicated on Sioux Valley’s official website.
The RCMP confirmed that their investigation is ongoing.